The Senior People Partner will support TRI by developing people strategies, coaching managers, leading performance initiatives, and managing workforce risks in a collaborative HR environment.
At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team advancing the state of the art in AI, robotics, driving, and material sciences.
The People team at TRI plays a critical role in supporting this mission. We partner across the organization to ensure that our people programs enable innovation, inclusion, and impact. We're a collaborative, curious, and values-driven group that’s passionate about making TRI an exceptional place to work.
As a Senior People Partner, you will support our mission-driven, research-oriented organization. This role serves as a strategic and hands-on People leader, partnering closely with senior leaders, people managers, and the broader People team to enable strong leadership, healthy teams, and organizational effectiveness. This role reports to the Manager, People Partner.
Responsibilities
- Partner with all leaders as a trusted advisor to understand business priorities and develop people strategies that drive organizational goals.
- Guide organizational design decisions, including team structures, spans and layers, and headcount planning.
- Coach managers and leaders on team dynamics, communication, employee development, and retention strategies.
- Lead or support the execution of performance management, employee engagement, and succession planning initiatives.
- Identify and assess workforce risks or gaps and develop proactive solutions in collaboration with the wider People organization.
- Assess external trends (e.g., macroeconomic shifts, DEI benchmarks, regulatory changes) and advise on implications for talent strategy.
- Help drive and support change management efforts that ensure smooth transitions and consistent adoption of new programs or structures.
- Partner cross-functionally with other People team members (e.g., People Operations, Compensation, Talent Acquisition) to ensure aligned and scalable solutions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Industrial & Labor Relations, Human Resources Management, Human Resources Development, Psychology, Business, etc.) preferred.
- 6+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally with a mix of both big tech and startup, including business partnering responsibilities.
- Proven expertise in resolving complex interpersonal and team misalignments, using empathy and assertiveness to address issues quickly and effectively.
- Comfort navigating ambiguity and adapting to frequent change with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Proven ability to build credibility among senior executives and influence key collaborators to drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
- Builds trust, helping to create a positive, collaborative work environment that fosters open communication and mutual respect.
- Operates at the highest level of professionalism, confidentiality, and personal integrity.
- Detailed, organized, and communicative, and thrives in a multi-tasking, hands-on, collaborative environment.
- Willingness to work in the office 2 days a week on a hybrid model.
- Authorization to work in the USA.
Bonus Qualifications
- Familiarity with organizational effectiveness tools and frameworks (e.g., engagement surveys, span/layer analysis).
- Knowledge of California and/or Massachusetts employment law.
- HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR) are a plus.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $148,000 and $203,500/year for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and market location. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) eligibility, paid time off benefits (including vacation, sick time, and parental leave), and an annual cash bonus structure. Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Please reference this Candidate Privacy Notice to inform you of the categories of personal information that we collect from individuals who inquire about and/or apply to work for Toyota Research Institute, Inc. or its subsidiaries, including Toyota A.I. Ventures GP, L.P., and the purposes for which we use such personal information.
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
Toyota Research Institute Los Altos, California, USA Office
4440 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA, United States, 94022
Similar Jobs
Fintech • Payments • Financial Services
Drive global HR operations transformation by analyzing and redesigning people processes, implementing HRIS/ATS configurations, standardizing workflows, measuring operational performance, and leading process governance to scale employee experience and automation.
Top Skills:
AtsGreenhouseHrisWorkday
Artificial Intelligence • Robotics
The role focuses on enabling organizational efficiency and decision-making through AI insights, documentation governance, and staffing support, while providing occasional HR surge support.
Top Skills:
Ai ToolsGoogle Workspace
HR Tech • Information Technology • Software
The Senior Manager, People Business Partner will support HackerRank's GTM team by providing strategic guidance on workforce planning, talent density, and employee development while managing AMER HR compliance and benefits.
Top Skills:
Employee DevelopmentHr ComplianceOrganizational DesignPerformance Management
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
